What should I feed my Galah?

Galahs are medium-sized cockatoos native to Australia. They are popular as pets due to their affectionate nature, playfulness and ability to mimic speech. Providing your galah with a balanced, nutritious diet is essential for its health and wellbeing.

What do galahs eat in the wild?

Galahs are omnivorous birds that eat a varied diet in the wild. Their natural diet consists of:

• Seeds and grains – Galahs eat the seeds of grasses, herbs and trees. Important seed foods include grass seeds, acacia seeds and eucalyptus seeds.
• Fruit – Galahs enjoy berries, figs and the fruits of eucalyptus and other native trees.
• Vegetables – Leafy greens, root vegetables, beans and peas are eagerly consumed by galahs.
• Insects – Beetles, caterpillars, ants, termites and insect larvae provide essential protein.
• Nectar and pollen – Galahs drink nectar and eat pollen gathered from native flowers such as banksias and grevilleas.

This diverse, nutrient-rich diet provides galahs with the carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals needed to thrive. It should form the foundation of a healthy captive galah diet.

Basic galah diet

The basic diet for pet galahs should include:

• High-quality extruded pellets – Pellets should make up 50-60% of the diet. Select a reputable brand formulated specifically for cockatoos. Ensure the pellets are crisp and not contaminated.
• Seed mix – A small amount of seeds can be offered, around 20% of the diet. Look for a mix made for small parrots with minimal sunflower seeds. Avoid mixes with dried fruit and nuts.
• Vegetables and leafy greens – Chopped vegetables should comprise around 20% of the diet. Leafy greens like endive, rocket and kale are great choices.
• Fruit – Berries and melons are healthy fruits for galahs in moderation.

This basic diet mimics what galahs eat in nature. The exact amounts to feed will vary based on your bird’s age, activity level and overall health. Your avian vet can help tailor your galah’s diet.

Important nutrients for galahs

It’s critical to meet your galah’s nutritional requirements to keep them healthy. Here are some key nutrients galahs need:

• Protein – Galahs need moderate protein levels, around 15% of the diet. Protein provides essential amino acids and helps maintain muscles, feathers and egg production in breeding birds. Sources include pellets, beans, eggs, insects and nuts.
• Fat – Healthy fats like the omega-3 fatty acids found in nuts, seeds and oily fish benefit skin, feathers and brain development. Around 5% of the diet should come from fats.
• Calcium – Calcium supports bone health and growth, egg shell formation and enzyme function. Calcium-rich foods include kale and other greens.
• Vitamin A – This vitamin maintains immune function and eyesight. Offer vitamin A sources like sweet potato, carrot and mangoes.
• Antioxidants – Berries and colorful veggies supply antioxidants to reduce cell damage from free radicals.

Consult an avian vet if you have questions about your galah’s nutritional needs.

Foods to avoid

Some foods are unhealthy for galahs and should be avoided. Do not feed your galah:

• Chocolate
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Avocado
• Onions
• Garlic
• Salty foods
• Sugary foods

These can cause serious health issues in galahs. Make sure everyone in the household knows not to share these foods with your bird.

Tips for feeding galahs

Follow these tips for galah feeding success:

• Feed pellets first thing in morning before other foods
• Provide small meals throughout the day
• Chop produce into uniform bite-size pieces
• Remove uneaten fresh foods within a few hours
• Don’t put food bowls under perches to avoid contamination
• Wash food bowls daily
• Give filtered, chlorine-free water always available
• Never make drastic diet changes – transition slowly over weeks

Stick to this regimen daily to encourage a well-balanced diet. Weigh your galah weekly and monitor droppings to ensure proper nutrition.

Supplements

Healthy galahs eating a varied diet typically don’t need supplements. Deficiencies are uncommon when feeding a balanced diet.
However, supplements can benefit certain galahs:

• Calcium – Lactating female galahs may need extra calcium for egg shell formation. Ask an avian vet about calcium gluconate supplements if needed.
• Vitamin D3 – Galahs without access outside to sunshine may require a D3 supplement for calcium absorption. Have levels tested first.
• Probiotics – These healthy gut bacteria can improve digestion and immunity. Supplement during antibiotic use.

Always consult your avian vet before supplementing to avoid toxicity and overdose issues. Only give supplements if blood tests indicate a deficiency requiring correction.

Foraging opportunities

In the wild, galahs spend much of their day foraging for food. You can recreate this engaging activity for your pet bird with foraging toys and opportunities, like:

• Puzzle feeders that hide treats below lids, blocks or maze walls
• Food-stuffed shredding toys
• Scatter feeding pellets or chopped produce around the cage
• Hide treats in cardboard tubes, boxes and paper bags
• Fruit and veggie kabobs on skewers

This provides exercise and mental stimulation. Rotate different foraging activities to prevent boredom.

Fresh foraging foods

Offer fresh human foods with foraging potential, like:

• Broccoli florets – hide treats in the tops
• Pea pods – birds pry out the peas
• Whole grains on the cob – birds strip off kernels
• Apples or oranges – slice crosswise and place on skewers
• Cabbage or lettuce leaves – stuff treats between leaf layers

Chop produce to an appropriate size to avoid choking hazards. Supervise your galah during foraging play for safety.

Sprouting foods

Sprouting grains and legumes is a great way to provide live, nutritious food. Galahs enjoy sprouted:

• Wheat berries
• Oats
• Mung beans
• Lentils
• Chickpeas
• Quinoa

Rinse and soak the seeds, then allow to sprout for a few days until tails appear. Rinse daily. Sprouts provide concentrated protein, minerals and enzymes galahs thrive on.

Transitioning diets

When transitioning your galah to a new diet, do so gradually over the course of 2-3 weeks. Sudden changes can upset digestion and cause starvation. To transition diets:

1. Make the new food 25% of the diet for several days.
2. Slowly increase the new food while decreasing old food over the next 10-14 days.
3. Watch for normal eating habits and droppings to ensure the transition is going smoothly.
4. Eventually work up until the new food makes up 100% of the diet.

Go slowly and be patient. This prevents gastrointestinal issues during diet switches.

Common diet-related issues

Watch for these common galah feeding issues:

• Obesity – From excess seeds, nuts and fatty foods. Manage weight with low-fat pellets, veggies and lean proteins.
• Malnutrition – Due to imbalanced diet low in vitamins and minerals. Feed a varied diet to prevent deficiencies.
• Picky eating – Generally from an overabundance of seed and produce options. Stick to regular scheduled feedings of pellets.
• Feather destructive behavior – Can result from nutritional deficiencies. Have vet assess diet and run tests to check for issues.

Schedule annual check-ups to monitor your galah’s health and nutrition. Inform your avian vet of any diet issues.

Breeding galah diet

Breeding galahs have increased nutritional needs. To support reproduction, provide:

• High-quality breeding pellets
• Chopped hard-boiled eggs to stimulate breeding
• Extra calcium sources like kale before egg laying
• Multivitamins 2-3 times per week
• Plenty of fresh water

Supplement as recommended by your avian vet. Separate bonded pairs if issues like egg binding occur and reassess diet.

Baby galah diet

Hand-feeding baby galahs is tricky and best done by an expert avian breeder. If attempting to hand-raise an orphaned chick, consult a vet. Healthy foods for growing babies include:

• Commercial hand-feeding formula
• Pureed pellets mixed with formula
• Mashed veggies and fruits
• Small seeds and sprouts
• Soy baby cereal
• Whole grain bread
• Hard boiled egg
• Chick starter feed

Never feed nestlings anything before consulting an avian vet on proper technique and diet. Improper feeding can result in aspiration pneumonia and death.

Senior galah diet

Mature galahs over 20 years old have different nutritional requirements. To minimize issues like arthritis, obesity and kidney/liver disease:

• Choose senior pellets designed for older birds
• Reduce fat and increase fiber with more veggies
• Use spices like cinnamon and turmeric for inflammation
• Ask vet about glucosamine supplements for joints
• Provide easily digestible foods

Regular vet exams help detect developing health issues to tailor the diet as needed for senior galahs.

Common diet-related health issues

Diet directly impacts galah health. Watch for these nutritional issues:

• Obesity – Excess fat deposits from high-calorie foods can cause heart and liver disease. Manage weight through diet.
• Hepatic lipidosis – Fatty liver disease from poor diet and obesity. Requires vet treatment.
• Hypocalcemic seizures – Can occur from calcium deficiency. Supplement when necessary.
• Egg binding – Often due to inadequate calcium. Correct diet and increase light exposure.
• Feather destructive behavior – Can result from nutritional deficiencies or allergies.
• Respiratory infections – More common in vitamin A deficient birds with weakened immunity.

Schedule regular checkups to catch any potential issues early. Having blood work done annually helps assess internal health.

Signs of malnutrition

Watch for these signs of poor nutrition in galahs:

• Sudden weight loss
• Lethargy, weakness
• Poor feather quality
• Loss of appetite
• Abnormal droppings
• Increased susceptibility to illness
• Neurological signs like seizures, tremors
• Slow growth in babies

Consult an avian vet right away if your galah exhibits any of these symptoms for proper treatment and diet correction.

Common galah feeding mistakes

Avoid these common galah feeding errors:

• Feeding too much seed and produce instead of pellets
• Not providing enough variety and nutrients
• Letting food spoil between feedings
• Feeding birds from each other’s bowls
• Introducing new foods suddenly
• Allowing access to toxic human foods
• Drastic changes in food amounts
• No regular weighing to monitor health

Stick to the basic galah diet guidelines and be consistent to avoid issues. Record your bird’s diet and weight to note trends over time.

Conclusion

Providing proper galah nutrition promotes good health and wellbeing. Feed a balanced diet with pellets, vegetables, limited seeds/fruit and lean proteins. Avoid excessive fatty, salty and sugary foods. Make diet changes gradually and use supplements cautiously under vet guidance. Address any emerging health issues promptly. With good nutrition and care, galahs can live 40-60 years or more.